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Product Description
First time on DVD!! Violent Playground is a 1958 film directed by Basil Dearden and starring Peter Cushing, Stanley Baker and David McCallum. It centres on a Liverpool street gang led by Johnny Murphy (McCallum). When local Juvenile Liaison Officer Sergeant Truman (Baker) visits the Murphy household, with the view that if you catch kids at an early age, they will end up being reseponsible adults. Truman becomes romantically involved with Johnny s sister and also finds considerable points of similarity between his previous investigations into the activities of an arsonist know as the Firefly and his investigation of Johnny.
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 0 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), SPECIAL FEATURES: Black & White, Interactive Menu, Remastered, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: Violent Playground opens with a few West Side Story style shots of a Liverpool street gang, commandeered by a very nasty-looking David McCallum. We're going to be seeing a lot more of McCallum before the final fadeout: His sister (Anne Heywood) is in love with an upright police officer (Stanley Baker). The film plods along predictable grounds until the climactic rumble sequence, which is as good as anything ever seen in Hollywood "J.D." picture. Violent Playground didn't get much American play in 1957, principally because there was a glut of such films at the time. The picture received a new lease on life in the early 1960s to cash in on the Man From UNCLE popularity of David McCallum. ...Violent Playground ( Violent Play ground )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
32 of 32 people found the following review helpful
By William Taylor
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Stanley Baker was one of the 1950's and 60's most reliable and interesting leading men, and his untimely death at the early age of 48 was very tragic, robbing us of a unique talent.
Many of his films are frequently revived on TV but 'Violent Playground' isn't among them, which is a shame, because it's a good, tense thriller. I imagine the climax of the film, in which small school children are kept hostage at gunpoint in their classroom, could explain why the film is rarely shown, given the events which occured at Dunblane and elsewhere in recent years.
Stanley Baker is excellent as the police detective who is assigned against his will as a juvenile liason officer in a tough area of Liverpool. We follow his progress, initially resentful of his new role until he begins to see the value of his work. The main plot of the film deals with his struggle with a very young David McCallum, a juvenile delinquent and arsonist who bullies his contemporaries and whose life spirals completely out of control.
The location filming in Liverpool is fascinating, but for some reason the producers decided to use a London location for the school siege - I thought my eyes were deceiving me when I saw a London trolleybus going past in the background (Liverpool never had a trolleybus system)!!
The DVD transfer is very good, sharp, crisp and well contrasted.
A worthy additon to anyone's collection of British cinema.
Many of his films are frequently revived on TV but 'Violent Playground' isn't among them, which is a shame, because it's a good, tense thriller. I imagine the climax of the film, in which small school children are kept hostage at gunpoint in their classroom, could explain why the film is rarely shown, given the events which occured at Dunblane and elsewhere in recent years.
Stanley Baker is excellent as the police detective who is assigned against his will as a juvenile liason officer in a tough area of Liverpool. We follow his progress, initially resentful of his new role until he begins to see the value of his work. The main plot of the film deals with his struggle with a very young David McCallum, a juvenile delinquent and arsonist who bullies his contemporaries and whose life spirals completely out of control.
The location filming in Liverpool is fascinating, but for some reason the producers decided to use a London location for the school siege - I thought my eyes were deceiving me when I saw a London trolleybus going past in the background (Liverpool never had a trolleybus system)!!
The DVD transfer is very good, sharp, crisp and well contrasted.
A worthy additon to anyone's collection of British cinema.
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By Alan James "Maebuschfan"
TOP 100 REVIEWER
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
While searching for the 'Firefly' arsonist, the hardened but sensitive detective Truman (Stanley Baker) feels resentful at being switched from his detective duties to the position of Juvenile Liaison Officer. Then after returning a very young brother/sister shoplifting team to their older sister, Cathie Murphy (Anne Heywood) Truman is immediately attracted to big sister (who wouldn't be!). She herself cannot stand the police but gradually seems to warm to her friendly admirer.
It was then only a question of time before Cathie's brother, Johnnie (David McCallum - why is the bad guy in old crime movies always called Johnnie?) and Truman's paths crossed. Gang leader Johnnie is a very naughty young man, who sees himself as a bit of a 'Godfather' around the high-rise block on the council estate where he lives. He's lean, he's mean, has pyromanic tendencies, and eventually carries a gun (but he's a good kid really!).
Thankfully the script is littered with realistic and believable dialogue, and the movie is expertly directed in the assured hands of Basil Dearden. I was impressed with all the performances, in particular from Messrs Baker, McCallum and Ms Heywood. It's always interesting to see Peter Cushing in a non-horror role, here he plays the part of the wise and compassionate local Priest. The story rattles along at a good pace, with the dramatic 'school seige' scenes handled sensitively.
While also benefiting from some excellent location shooting (in Liverpool) this is a gritty and entertaining 50's 'kitchen sink' crime drama.
The remastered black and white print on this Strawberry Media (ITV Studios) release is very good. There are no extras or subtitles.
It was then only a question of time before Cathie's brother, Johnnie (David McCallum - why is the bad guy in old crime movies always called Johnnie?) and Truman's paths crossed. Gang leader Johnnie is a very naughty young man, who sees himself as a bit of a 'Godfather' around the high-rise block on the council estate where he lives. He's lean, he's mean, has pyromanic tendencies, and eventually carries a gun (but he's a good kid really!).
Thankfully the script is littered with realistic and believable dialogue, and the movie is expertly directed in the assured hands of Basil Dearden. I was impressed with all the performances, in particular from Messrs Baker, McCallum and Ms Heywood. It's always interesting to see Peter Cushing in a non-horror role, here he plays the part of the wise and compassionate local Priest. The story rattles along at a good pace, with the dramatic 'school seige' scenes handled sensitively.
While also benefiting from some excellent location shooting (in Liverpool) this is a gritty and entertaining 50's 'kitchen sink' crime drama.
The remastered black and white print on this Strawberry Media (ITV Studios) release is very good. There are no extras or subtitles.
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
i have waited for years for "violent playground" to be issued on dvd and now it has!
this is one of stanley baker's greatest films. i can't understand why he has been placed into obscurity, he was a popular actor and leading man at this stage of his career.
the plot involves a liverpool police officer (baker) who is on the trail of an arsonist who has been reeking havoc all over the city. he suspects a young lad by the name of johnny murphy (david mccallum) of being responsible. however, baker's life changes when he is promoted to juvinile liasion officer. he befriends twins paddy and mary murphy and the attractive elder sister (anne heywood), younger brother and sisters of the forementioned johnny. baker eventually changes the lives of the twins, but at a terrible cost.
the pace is quite a fast one as stanley baker sees for himself the various hardships that liverpool's young have to contend with. peter cushing gives his usual brilliant performance as the local vicar, who is able to shed some light on the johnny murphy character.
there is quite a trend in this film, with the american influence of rock 'n' roll playing a considerable part. the script is a good one, with stanley baker, peter cushing and david mccallum receiving the best lines. the direction is solid and dependable as the film builds to a shattering climax that develops the tension to fever pitch.
this is a classic british film as it helped to pave the way for a completely new and different type of film within our film industry.
this is one of stanley baker's greatest films. i can't understand why he has been placed into obscurity, he was a popular actor and leading man at this stage of his career.
the plot involves a liverpool police officer (baker) who is on the trail of an arsonist who has been reeking havoc all over the city. he suspects a young lad by the name of johnny murphy (david mccallum) of being responsible. however, baker's life changes when he is promoted to juvinile liasion officer. he befriends twins paddy and mary murphy and the attractive elder sister (anne heywood), younger brother and sisters of the forementioned johnny. baker eventually changes the lives of the twins, but at a terrible cost.
the pace is quite a fast one as stanley baker sees for himself the various hardships that liverpool's young have to contend with. peter cushing gives his usual brilliant performance as the local vicar, who is able to shed some light on the johnny murphy character.
there is quite a trend in this film, with the american influence of rock 'n' roll playing a considerable part. the script is a good one, with stanley baker, peter cushing and david mccallum receiving the best lines. the direction is solid and dependable as the film builds to a shattering climax that develops the tension to fever pitch.
this is a classic british film as it helped to pave the way for a completely new and different type of film within our film industry.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Dubious accents (or lack of them)
The producers took the trouble to shoot on location in Liverpool (except for the climactic school scenes, where LT trolleybuses trundle around in the background) but where are the... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Al Baker
5.0 out of 5 stars
finally arrived after a week
been after this movie for years as it was filmed in the place where I grew up, all I need now is another one for my collection called the kitchen sink about kids growing up in... Read more
Published 1 month ago by jay
5.0 out of 5 stars
A story filmed on the streets of late 50's Liverpool involving a young...
I rated this five stars because, I remember seeing this film some fifty years ago (my 56th birthday today!) and could never remember the title. Read more
Published 3 months ago by D. J. Ferguson
3.0 out of 5 stars
British Films
I collect british 1950 /60s black and white films. not one of the better ones in my collection but still enjoyed it.
Published 3 months ago by terbo
4.0 out of 5 stars
Violent Playground
Early on in viewing this film I thought I had bought a dud un. But it warms up nicely. Baker is sometimes only good but then as in Zulu he shines.
Published 3 months ago by Ray
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Blue Bottle and the Firefly.
Violent Playground is directed by Basil Dearden and written by James Kennaway. It stars Stanley Baker, Anne Heywood, David McCallum and Peter Cushing. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Spike Owen
5.0 out of 5 stars
Stan, the man !!!
A wonderful British forerunner of British New Cinema, b/w - with the brilliant, so very underrated, but so great, timeless & gifted Stanley Baker in the lead !!! Read more
Published 7 months ago by Tilly Kah
5.0 out of 5 stars
Viiolent playground
Wounderfull period piece, which captures late fiftees working class britain and grips from beinginning to end. Read more
Published 9 months ago by jacko break
4.0 out of 5 stars
payroll
suberb little film, these little low budget classics are so underrated great performances from tom bell michael craig and the great billie whitelaw, the star of the film, a great... Read more
Published 12 months ago by stephen bowness
3.0 out of 5 stars
propagandistic, maudlin, and cliched
This is a quite typical anti-youth propoganda film of the 60's, mainly interesting for David McCallum's early starring role. Read more
Published 13 months ago by M. FUSCO
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